Last minute Obamacare shoppers have until 11:55 tonight to sign up for health insurance

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Last minute Obamacare shoppers who want health coverage that takes effect Jan. 1 have until 11:55 tonight to sign up through the New York health insurance exchange.

Fidelis Care, one of the insurers offering coverage through the exchange, announced it will help residents interested in enrolling until 5 p.m. today at its office at 5010 Campuswood Drive, East Syracuse.

No appointment is necessary.

The deadline for enrolling in coverage effective Jan.
1 had been Monday. But the state, following the lead of the federal government, extended it by one day.

Under the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, nearly all Americans are required to have health insurance in 2014 or face a penalty of $95 or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater.

To avoid the penalty, people must enroll by March 31, 2014.

Individuals and families can get information and enroll in a plan online, by calling 1-855-5777 or in person through a navigator. A list of navigators can be found on the exchange website.

You can contact health writer James T. Mulder at jmulder@syracuse.com or (315) 470-2245. Follow him on Twitter @JamesTMulder